Tournament of the Caribbean and the Americas, winning their opening match-up against host country Martinique yesterday.

Paired in a four-team grouping containing Dominica, Chile and Martinique, Bermuda's duo won the first of their three round-robin matches by a 2-1 scoreline.

Bradshaw took the courts first and promptly disposed of his opponent in straight sets to get things rolling. Roberts followed but was unable to match his countryman's earlier success as he went down in three sets.

But the pair regrouped in time for the doubles to win the match and claim the tie. Two more similar triumphs would guarantee the local ambassadors a place in the knock-out round where the eight seeded nations join in the action.

"We're trying to develop a national team and are hoping that trips like this serve to encourage young players to come out and get serious about their tennis,'' said BLTA past president Allan Simmons.

This past week Billy Way echoed Simmons' thought of putting together a national programme after he and Donald Evans had returned from competing in an Olympic qualifyer in Paraguay.

Last year Michael Way, Ricky Mallory and Sammy Maybury attended the tournament and Maybury along with Mallory had been booked for a return this year. But they were forced to pull out due to a late rescheduling of the event the BLTA was forced to choose alternates.

The BLTA is currently holding a series of training courses for umpires. These courses started last week and continue with classes scheduled for today and May 12. Conducting the aforementioned sessions are experienced local umpires.

On May 15 and 16 the association will sponsor two clinics with top umpire Carmen Boland, a member of the USTA Umpires Association.

These clinics will take place at the Scarborough Building on Pitts Bay Road from 6.30 p.m. until 8.30 p.m. on both days.

All are invited to attend. For further information please contact Allan Simmons at 295-5566.

JEROME BRADSHAW.